The Best 12 Tourist Places to Visit and Things to Do in Leoben, Austria

June 5, 2023 Mustafa Natalwala 1921 Views

Leoben is a city in the Styrian state of Austria. It sits on the banks of river Mur close to the Lavanttal Alps. Some of the best things to do in Leoben, Austria include exploring the regional history, old architecture, local culture, and surrounding natural landscape.

Leoben was once called the “Gateway to the Styrian Iron Road”. It made significant progress as an industrial city. The Kunsthalle Museum is the best Leoben attraction to learn about the city’s and Styria’s history.

You will also get to explore the city’s history through the old buildings spread throughout the city. The historic buildings are the highlight of Leoben sightseeing. You will see old churches, fortifications, ruined castles, public squares, and more. Some of the buildings date back to 1,000s.

The majority of the popular places to visit in Leoben, Austria hail from medieval times. The collective architecture creates a historic charm that permeates the city. The narrow streets and lively atmosphere of the square is unique to Leoben travel.

The city is also quite well known for its food and beverages. Leoben tourist attractions include historic breweries where you can explore the process of making iconic beers and even sample a few. You will also get to tour the museum dedicated to the famous Goesser Beer.

In terms of cuisine, you should definitely try out traditional Styrian dishes when you visit Leoben. These include Backhendl (fried chicken) and Hirschbraten (beef stew). The Styrian region is also well-known for its wines, especially Sauvignon Blanc and Welschriesling.

There are also quite a few wonderful things to see in Leoben’s surrounding areas as well. The city is close to Lavanttal and Eisenerzer Alps. You can embark in the wilderness for hiking, camping, mountain biking, climbing, and more. There are a lot of fun things to do in Leoben and people love the chilled-out quaint historic town vibe of the city.

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Table of Contents

Top 12 Tourist Places to Visit in Leoben, Austria

1. Kunsthalle Leoben

This museum narrates 2000 years of regional history. It is one of the first Leoben tourist attractions you should visit to put the rest of the trip into perspective. You will get to understand the events that shaped the history of the region.

The museum also gives you the natural history of the region. You will get to see exhibits of wooly mammoths and rhinoceros that once roamed these lands. You will need about an hour to tour this museum when you visit Leoben.

2. Schwammerlturm Leoben

This medieval tower stands 30 meters tall and was part of the historic fortification of the town. It is one of the important historical Leoben attractions. The tower is best recognized for its mushroom hat and inscription.

This inscription faces the city centre and shares the history of the tower in the form of a poem. You can also take a tour inside the tower and get a great view of the city from atop. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes from Leoben travel to explore this tower.

3. Gösser Braumuseum

This brewery creates one of Austria’s favorite beers: the Goesser Beer, a part of the Heineken Company. The tour is one of the most popular things to do in Leoben.

The museum tells about the thousand years long history of the craft of brewing. You will also get to sample a few delicious beers. You will need about an hour to tour this museum.

4. Göss Abbey

The history of this abbey dates back to 1004 and can be traced to a nunnery established by Adela of Leoben. The abbey was dissolved in 1782 and now the establishment is a brewery.

The building is still renowned among the top places to visit in Leoben, Austria for its architectural, historical, and cultural significance. The building is largely Gothic with elements of Romanesque architecture featured in its older parts. You will need about an hour from Leoben sightseeing to tour this Abbey.

5. Pfarrkirche Leoben-St. Xaver

This church was first built in 1660 and was formerly a Jesuit church. It is now a Roman Catholic parish. The church towers over the old city area and is one of the most impressive things to see in Leoben, Austria.

The structure still retains much of its original Baroque architectural elements. The church has been an integral part of the town’s culture. You will need about an hour to explore this church.

6. Pfarrkirche Leoben-Waasen

This church is even older than the St Xaver church. Its history dates back to 1149, but the current version dates between 1400s and 1900s. The church was built in stages owing to fires and restorations.

The blend of different eras makes it one of the most interesting places to visit in Leoben, Austria. You will see Gothic, Baroque, and Neo-Gothic architectural elements in the structure and interior. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to tour this church.

7. Hauptplatz

This central square is the top spot for all the best things to do in Leoben, Austria. The pedestrian-only square is surrounded by colourful buildings and a few historical landmarks.

The church also has several shops and cafes that you can explore. It also holds the famous Pestsaule Monument. The monument pays tribute to the people who survived the plague in the Middle Ages.

The sculpture and craftsmanship on this monument is among the most wonderful things to see in Leoben. You can easily spend an hour or so at this square when you visit Leoben.

8. Massenburg Castle Ruins

The castle was originally built as a wooden hill fort and later as a stone castle. Though it lies in ruins now, it is one of the most important historical Leoben tourist attractions. You can tour the ruins of the fort and explore the history of the fortification of the town. It takes 30 to 45 minutes to tour the historical site.

9. Arkadenhof Restaurant

This restaurant is popular among Leoben attractions for its long-standing history, local cuisine, wine tasting, and beers. It is a self-styled brewery and restaurant that serves incredible Styrian and Austrian dishes.

While primarily known as a brewery, the restaurant also hosts wine-tasting sessions and late-night shows. You should take an hour or so from an evening of Leoben travel to experience the place.

10. Konditorei Steinscherer Cafe

This cafe is another well-known food establishment in the town. It is renowned for three things: the artistic facade, rustic interior, and food.

The bright red exterior with sculptures and reliefs is one of the most attractive things to see in Leoben. While the interior gives a homely feel. The menu features a lot of breakfast items, bakery goods, desserts, and beverages.

You can also take a table outside if you admire the facade more than the interior. Owing to its popularity the cafe has become a part of Leoben sightseeing.

11. Asia Spa Leoben

The spa offers a variety of relaxation and rejuvenation treatments in an Asian-themed complex. The spa also has a sports pool, a children’s playground, and a diving tower. You can spend a few hours here to relieve your muscles after exploring Leoben attractions all day.

12. Lavanttal Alps

This mountain range is part of the Central Eastern Alps and is known for its scenic beauty. You can take a car to explore the mountains. It takes about 2 hours to reach there.

The highest peak of the Lavanttal Alps stands higher than 2,000 meters. Even if you don’t want to climb that high, you can enjoy the natural scenery and outdoor things to do in Leoben such as hiking and mountain climbing trails. You will need 4 to 5 hours for this adventure.

If you are looking for more places to visit in Leoben, check out the sections below. We have compiled an exhaustive list of things to do and attractions to explore in and around the town.

Things to do in Leoben, Austria

Monuments, Museums & Historical Places to Visit in Leoben, Austria

Kunsthalle Leoben
Schwammerlturm Leoben
Abadia de Goss
Massenberg Castle Ruins
Romerbrucke
Burgruine Kaiserberg
Schloss Mell
Hauptplatz
Pfarrkirche Leoben-Waasen
Pfarrkirche Leoben-St. Xaver
Göss Abbey
Goesser Braumuseum

Nature & Wildlife Tourist Spots in Leoben, Austria

Mugel Mountain Peak
Thalerkogel Mountain Peak
Trabocher See
Eisenpass
Madereck
Herrenkogel
Schiffall Mountain Peak
Lavanttal Alps

Entertainment & Leisure Tourist Spots in Leoben, Austria

LeoPark
Garner Park
Asia Spa

Shopping in Leoben, Austria

Leoben City Shopping
Star Centre

Offbeat Places, Tours, & Adventures in Leoben, Austria

Hiking
Mountain Biking
Mountain Climbing

Food, Dining, Restaurants, & Street Food in Leoben, Austria

Konditorei Steinscherer Cafe
Arkadenhof Restaurant
Port 361
Antica Trattoria Roma
Italo Steirer
Stadt Meierei
Zwanzger
San Marco
Zu Den 3 Goldenen

Where to Stay in Leoben?

Here we have listed Top Rated Hotels in Leoben. You can check the below-listed hotels for your perfect stay in Leoben.

How to Reach Leoben, Austria?

By Air

The closest airport to visit Leoben, Austria is the Flughafen Graz International Airport. The airport receives direct flights from Frankfurt, Vienna, Calvi, Antalya, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Rhodes, Palma de Mallorca, Amsterdam, Munich, Zurich, and several other cities in Europe.

The airport is situated about 70 km away from the city. You can get trains and buses from Graz to reach Leoben.

By Road

You can get direct trains for Leoben travel from several cities in Austria and neighbouring nations. These include Graz, Warsaw, Vienna, Hamburg, Villach, Stuttgart, Klagenfurt, Milan, Salzburg, Innsbruck, Rome, Zurich, Berlin, Florence, and more. You can also get direct buses to reach Leoben from several cities and towns in Austria.
If you are planning to visit Leoben by road, you should head for routes A2, A9, A1, and A8.

By Water

There are no direct water routes to visit Leoben.

Image Reference

Kunsthalle Leoben – domjisch / Flickr
Schwammerlturm Leoben – Liberaler Humanist / Wikimedia Commons
Gösser Braumuseum – Ars Electronica / Flickr
Göss Abbey – Niki.L / Wikimedia Commons
Pfarrkirche Leoben-St. Xaver – Thomas Ledl / Wikimedia Commons
Pfarrkirche Leoben-Waasen – Haeferl / Wikimedia Commons
Hauptplatz – magro_kr / Flickr
Massenburg Castle Ruins – Leoben81 / Wikimedia Commons
Arkadenhof Restaurant (Arkadenhof Schwarzer Adler) – Thomas Ledl / Wikimedia Commons
Konditorei Steinscherer Cafe – magro_kr / Flickr
Asia Spa Leoben – qwesy qwesy / Wikimedia Commons
Lavanttal Alps – guentherlig / PixaBay